March 21~
The first day was a blast. The flight was good and we met Kathy and Bill from the Foresters at the airport. They were extremely nice. The first champion family that we met was from Oregon. Then we met Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Lousiana on the bus. They were all wonderful people. This was also the time we met Alicia, whom I absolutely fell in love with. She is from Massachusetts and is adorable. When we got to the hotel we met Lynn Soltys who arranged the entire week, what a charming, loving, and hardworking woman. Then we met a lot more people. We also found out that we would not be meeting President and Mrs. Bush because of their trip to Mexico. We went to a quick meeting with Roger who explained the week's events. This was also the time that we were first introduced to our major sponsor the Forestors. Foresters is not just business, but a community of volunteers who focus on CMN. They financed the entire trip, to develop awareness for the 170 children's hospitals and their missions. We went to dinner and met the Minnesota family, the South Dakota Family, the North Dakota family and a lot of other families. I went down to the pool and met Bridget from Iowa.
March 22~
In the morning we all gathered for the welcome breakfast where we met Kurt and Brenda Warner, and Miss America. I got to try on Katie's crown. (pictures to come.)After breakfast we got on the bus (just the champions)and went to the White House. This is where I met Casey from Kansas and Erin from DC. We saw four rooms, including the Vermeil Room, the Red and Blue Rooms, and my favorite, the East Room. I liked the East Room the best because of the fact that all major social gatherings held by the president are held in that room. I enjoyed seeing the enormous chandoliers that take 14 hours a piece to clean. It was truly incredible and I would just love to have one of those in my house. After we met the Bush's dog Spot, we returned to the hotel to meet our parents and headed off to our special luncheon at the National Press Club where we were Kurt Warner's special guests for his keynote speech. Did anyone see it on CSPAN?? Brenda Warner is an inspirational woman too. She was a single mother of two before she and Kurt married. Her oldest son Zachary was injured in a car accident and was told that he would never be able to sit up, and now he can walk and run. During our filet mignon luncheon, we met Jeanine and Steve, from the Marriott Board of Governors. Marriott, one of our most dedicated sponsors of CMN, was generous enough to donate rooms for all 50 champion families in the lovely JW Marriott Hotel, in DC. Later that evening Mom, Dad, and I dined at the ESPN Zone and then went to see Alycia perform in her spring dance concert at American University during our free time. She was awesome! Later, after we got back from experiencing the metro breaking down, I went to the pool and met Adam, Casey's good friend. We also met JoAnna and Chelsea, the two babysitters of Kurt and Brenda's 4 children. They remembered us for the rest of the trip and were really cool to talk to. Adam, Casey, Bridget, and I ended up going to the restaurant/lounge to watch the Kansas vs Illinois game. GO KANSAS!!
March 23~
Today was our bus tour of DC, we saw Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon, the National Mall, the Vietnam and Korean Memorials and had our group photo taken in front of the Lincoln Memorial. At the Vietnam Memorial I found a Fitch Highschool graduate who was killed on July 4th during the war. Then free time...once again to the pool with Casey and Adam. Then we had our trip to the circus. It was pretty remarkable seeing all the younger kids get excited. I have to say I was enjoyed myself too. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus performers joined us for dinner in one of the suites above the colloseum. We also had some time to share with our new Forrester friends before our departure the next day.
March 24~
The travel day to ORLANDO. Delta donated the flight and chartered flights are awesome!! The flight attendents wore special teeshirts and treated us like we were celebrities. They asked us to sign their books! Bridget, Erin, Casey, Adam, and I shifted around so we could sit next to each other. What a blast. When we arrived at the Disney World resort, Coronado Springs, we met the Canadian Champions at the welcome reception dinner. This is where I got my last signatures from the other Champions. We also met Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Donald. After another long day, we all made our way to the pool and jacuzzi at the
"Dig Site" which became our newest night time gathering place.
March 25~
Monday was a loooong day. We hit Animal Kingdom, MGM, Epcot, and the Magic Kingdom. We did a lot... the safari, Star Tours, almost the Tower of Terror (I chickened out), Rock'n' Roller Coaster with my new friends and Alycia, and then we ate dinner at Octoberfest in Epcot's Germany After a fabulous dinner, we headed for the Magic Kingdom and saw the Spectro Magic Parade. It was unbelievable. We finally found Scott, our Connecticut Children's Medical Center/CMN coordinator. He came back to Coronado Springs with us and shared some time we me. He's such a special friend to me, my family, and all the kids at CCMC and CMN. Then off to the pool again to connect with the other Champions. March 26~
Tuesday was a slower day. Mom, Dad, and Alycia went to Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom again. I ended up going to Animal Kingdom with Bridget, her brother and Erin's family. After a short visit,(we were all exhausted)we went back to Coronado Springs to the pool where we met up with Casey and Adam. We got videotaped for Erin's local telethon. What a blast playing keep away football. Then it was time for the sponsor-champion social and dinner. It was mainly a pin exchange, but before we went around to the tables, the champions paraded in by state. We all got a huge ovation in addition to loud cheering. It was a very moving experience. There were a lot of sponsors and a lot of signatures for me to sign. Geezzzzz,I thought my hand was going to fall off... It was fun. Then dinner was good, despite the really scary thunder and lightening storm. We hooked up with Dean Baldwin, from FOX 61 in Hartford, and his wife Doreen. Dean created my CCMC video that will be shown on our local telethon during the first weekend in June. Watch for it...Dean did an awesome job on my video! But the fun hadn't started yet. The concert was awesome. Jessica Andrews performed wonderfully, and she made Tennison from Utah extremely happy by calling him up to stage to sing with her. I made it onto the big screen with Bridget. And then we got our medals and saw Diamond Rio perform. They were wonderful too. I got a guitar pick when they called all the kids up on stage. The medal ceremony was incredible. Kurt and Brenda Warner called each Champion onto the stage for their medals along with Miss America for the Americans, and a Grammy Award Winning singer, whose name I cannot remember, for the Canadians. After the concert, I finally got my picture with Kurt and Brenda (pictures on the way) and I thanked them for being so kind and caring. I have a tremendous amount of respect for them. Can you guess where I went after that? The pool with Erin, Bridget, Casey, Adam, Jake, and Hans. We hung out until 2:00 am, and got about 2 hours of sleep before we had to get up.
March 27~
The sadness came when we all had to say goodbye. I made good friends with all of the other champions and we want to get together for a reunion, but we don't know when or where, but let's leave that to the Kansas boys. I had an incredible time and I will never forget any of it... from Alicia's hugs, to Tennison's mischief, and from Calum's constant laughter to six packs and boardshorts, or from keep away football with the guys to cornstalks and socks. Finally from Heather's energetic HI CHERYL to Peter's kiss from Miss America, and from Sara's heartfelt, enthusiastic response to receiving her medal to the tears we all shared when it was over. On behalf of all the champions and their families...."THANK YOU CMN, FORESTERS, AND SUPPORTERS!!!!!" I have grown even more as a person after meeting these tremendous and courageous people. Hope to hear from my friends.